you know, i loved ohio then, but then my father took me to columbus to visit ohio state university. a lot of dads, a lot of moms took their kids to visit ohio state. i fell in love. you know, i sensed ohio's excitement then, i felt its opportunity. i knew ohio was going to be my home, and nobody was going to drag me away from this place because it's just so, so awesome. but, folks, we have all seen our state drift over time. we've seen it get old. we've seen it begin to misfire and fall behind. but like a great old home, i knew ohio could be restored to its grandeur, to its greatness. you see, ohio is a land of hope and opportunity -- realize dreams for our families. we're safe, we're friendly, we're filled with the potential to pursue our passions. we take care of our neighbors. you know, ohio is a place where we can work, contribute, build a better community. we can be a shining example of how when people get together, they can get it right. and not just for ourselves, but for our children, of course, most especially. but, folks, the rebuilding has to continue. we can't rest on ou